Delivery box



May 22, 1923. l,45,877

} J.GHGA$ DELivERY BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1

- Filed July 11, 1922 May 22, 1923. 1,455,877

J.GmGAs DELIVERY BOX Filed July 11, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 22, 1923.

J. GRIGAS DELIVERY BOX Filed July 11, 1922 a sheets-sheet s Fatented M ay EATEFN? @EFFEQE.

JOSEPH G-B-ZGAS, G33 SHENANDOAH, PENNSYLVANIA.

DELEVEEY BOX.

Application filed July 11, 1922. Serial No. 574,37.

1 (ZZZ /2072), it may concern Be it known that .losiirrr Games, a c1tmen of the United States, residing at Shenandoah in the county of Schuylkill and more particularly to a receptacle adapted to receive containers such bottles containing milk. cream, or other liquids, and to lock the same there' i The invention has vision or a receptacle of this type adapted to be mounted upon the outside of a home or lodging so that it is not necessary for the delivery man to place the bottles openly on the outside of the house. as is now customary.

A more specific object of the invention is to afford a receptacle of this type having means whereby the receptacle may be locked only after the'door with which it is provided is closed, and th n only when a bottle or other container is placed therein.

@r still further object is to provide an adj stable :means whereby containers of varying" weight and size Inayhe selectively required to lock the container.

The invention further contemplates the provision o1"- indicatingmeans in order to indicate the character of the container quired to operate the locking means.

Other objects of the invention, such' as its object the pron" ub simplicity of construction, economy in manufacture, and ease of operation, will become obvious as the description proceedsj In the accompanying drawings, there is shown one embodiment of the invention, and. in said. drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing); the device in position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with top removed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical. section on the line of Fig. 2. looking in the directiono't the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view showing the operating mechanism.-

, Fig. '5 is a side elevational view with a portion of the casing removed.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 5. v

Fig. is an elevational view of the operating mechanism, showing the same adjusted for quart'bottles, and before a bottle is placed in the receptacle.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '1' showing); the operating parts in, locked position.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 7. o

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail of the-means for bearing the spring resistance to the movement of the container su iporting platform.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the indicating; means, and

F ig. 12 is a detail view showing a tion of the ope atiuo mechanism. I

Referring to the (.irau'ings for a more detailed description. 10 indicates generallv a casing; having an interior semicylindr '31 wall 11 spaced from the outer wall ot' the casing, the inner wall forming a con'ipartment 12 the front of which is provided with a closure member or door 1.3 pivoted or hingedly secured to the casing as at The casing; is provided with bottom 1.5 3) and a top 16 which serve to close the compartment 12. Arranged within the compartment is a vertically movable container supporting platform or floor 17 which pported by means of a substantially tl-shaped rod 19 having upwardly extendlep; portions passing through guides 20 upon the casing; and upwardly through the top 16 of the casing wlero the ter iinals of the rod are connected by a strip 21 spaced. slightly above the top 16 oi? the ccnig artment 12.

As will be noted from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3, the portion of the rod .5) connecting le legs thereoi itcnds beneath the platform 17, as indicated i 1.9. and the platiorm is 'norn'r y maintainer; in the raised position shown in Fig. 3 lrv means of yielding supnoi means. such as springs conncctin to lugs 23 upon the si'!j; portinc rod 19 and to lugs upon the casing.

27 operable from the exterior of the casing (Fig. 6) is positioned below -the arm on the casing and has an upwardly extending slotted arm 28 through which passes a lug 29 upon the latch arm 25. As will be noted in Fig. 7, when there is no con- ,tainer in the compartment 12, the lug 29 is at the upper end of the slot in arm 28 of the look, but upon depression of the platform, the lug moves to the lower end of v the slot, as shown in Fig. 8, and when the until the door is closed. -.F or this purpose,

there is mounted upon the top 16 of the compartment a substantially curved or bell crank lever 30, one end of which is connected at 31 to an arm 32 extendingthrough the'cas- 'ing and securedto the top of the door, as at 33. The lever is fulcrumed upon a stud fllf4 i -andhas its opposite ends secured to a spring 35 anchored at 36 upon'the top of the compartment 12 and normally maintaining'the door closed. Thelever 30 is provided with an upstanding lug. 37 (Figs. 2, 3 and 7) which, when thedoor is opened, is carried beneath the strap 21 connecting the terminals of rod 19 which supports the ,platform. .VVhen the door is opened and the lug-37 is'beneath the strap 21, the platform cannot be lowered, since thestrap rests upon the lug 33, but upon the closing of the door and the return of the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2, the weight of the container upon the platform depresses the latter and causes latch arm 25 to come into engagement with the hook 26 upon the interior of the (lOOlq The door operating mechanism, above described, may be enclosed by a cap plate 10' spaced above the top of the compartment 12 and forming part of the casing. v 3

In order that the device may be adjustable for the reception of bottles of various sizes and weights, such as pints, quarts, etc, means is provided for varying the yielding resistance to the depression of the supporting platform 17 whereby containers of dif ferent weights may selectively be required to depress the platform the necessary distance to bring the latch arm 25 into engagement with the door hook'26. For this purpose, there is fixedly sec u-red upon the interior of the casing'a. channel bar 39 (Figs.

V .8 and 10) normally registering with a channel bar 40 upon the platform supporting rod 19. Within the channel bars slides a bolt 41 having an upwardly 'extending the operating lever 45.

arm 42 to which is secured a spring 43. an-

chored at its opposite end to the lug 24 upon the top of the compartment. The arm 42 of the bolt passes between the'finge'rs 44 of the forked end o-fan operating lever 45 pivoted at 46 to the compartment wall and 3 having an operating finger 47 projecting through an arcuate slot 48 to the interior of the compartment 12. As shown in Fig. 7,.the bolt 40 is positioned in channel bar 41, and, as thus positioned,'when the plat-' form is lowered, spring 43 supplements the springs 22 and op-poses'c'lepression of the platform. Obviously, by moving the lever :45 by means of its operating finger 47 to I the opposite end of slot 48v from its position when the'parts are as shown in Fig. 7, the

bolt 41 is movedwithin the channel bar39 i which is fixed to the casing. With-the bolt in this position, the platform may be lowered without drawing downwardly the bolt '41 or tensioning the spring. 43. iirdditioncasing.

In order to indicate the character of the container necessary to depress the platform and to lock the door when the latter is closed, an indicator. 50 .(Fig. 11) 'is-positioned so as to-be visible from the exterior of, the casing through an opening 51 in the casing. The indicatoris shown as supported upon the end of a curved rod 52 extending downwardly an d upwardly through a bracke t- 53 upon the interior of the casing wall and having an inwardly projecting terminal portion 54 above the-operating lever 45. A spring 55 secured to the end of the rod 52 and anchored upon a. lug 56 upon thecasing above the indicator normally maintains the indicator in its upper position shown in Fig. 6, so that the legend pint milk is visible through the opening 51 in-the casing; The terminal 54 of-the indicator supporting rod 52 extends beneath the arm -57'of aibell crank lever which is fulcruined, at 58 'upon the wall of the compartment 12 and has adownwardly projecting arm 59 engaging Movement of the operating lever from the position shown in F 5, whereinfthe bolt 41 is in the fixed channel bar 39 so that the spring 43"does not oppose downward movement of the plat form 17, will move the bell-cranl'r leverarm 57 downwardly. If the operating lever is moved to the extreme right, as shown in Fig. 8, the bolt 41 is moved into the chair nel bar 4-0 so as to-throw the spring 43 into channel. bar 40.,to resist-depression of. the

supporting platform. At the same time, the indicator is depressed so as to bring the legend 1 quart milk into view through the opening 51. Obviously, if the operating lever is moved to an intermediate position with the bolt 41 extending partially into the channel bar 39 and partially into the channel bar 40 so that the platform cannot be depressed, the indicator is likewise moved to an intermediate position, wherein the legend No milk today is visible through the opening 57.

It will thus-be clear that the receptacle can be set so as to require for the locking of the same the insertion therein of containers of varying weights. If the cont-ainer is intended particularly for the reception of milk bottles, as disclosed in the embodiment of the invention herein set forth, the legends upon the indicator will preferably be as shown in the drawings, although these may be modified to suit the preference of the user. If the user does not wish any milk to be positioned in the receptacle, the operating lever is adjusted so that the bolt 41 is in the position shown in Fig. 12, and the indicator will, at the same time, bevertically adjusted so that the legend No milk today is visible. If

the delive'rer of the milk should not notice the indicator, he will naturally make sure that the receptacle cannot be locked when the door is open, for the reason that the lug 33, upon the door operating lever 37, is positioned beneath the strap 21, preventing the depression of the platform. When the door is closed, the platform is locked against depression by means of the bolt 41, and, therefore, the receptacle cannot be locked. 1f the delivery man should fail to observe the particular amount of milk desired and indicated upon the legend, and should attempt to leave a pintof milk when a quart isdesired, the weight of the pint container will not suftice to lower the latch arm. 27 into engagement with the door hook 26, since the spring 43 will oppose downward movement of the platform supplementing the springs 22, the bolt 41 being,-at this time, in the position shown in Fig. 8 within the channel bar 40.

After a bottle of milk has been left by the delivery man, it is simply necessary, in order to open thecontainer. for the user to insert a key in lock 27 and movement of the key raises the lock arm 28 which will lift the platform and the latch arm, permitting the door to be opened.

It should be understood that numerous modifications may be made in the illustrated and described structure without dearting from the scope of the invention which is definitely set forth in the followin de fined in the prior art.

claims, and the. limits of which are I claim:

1. A safety receptacle comprising a vertically movable container support, spring means opposing downward movement of said support .underthe influence of a container, a member adapted to confine a container upon said support, locking means operatively connected to said support, for locking said confining member in operative position when said support is depressed, and means for varying the spring resistance to the downward movement of said support whereby containers of different weights may selectively be required to cause said locking means to lock said confining member.

2. A safety receptacle comprising a vertically movable container support, spring means opposing downward movement of said support under the influence of a container, a member adapted to confine a container upon said support, locking means operatively connected to said support for locking said member in operative position when said support is depressed, and means forrendering said locking means inoperative when the confining member is in operative position.

3. A safety receptacle comprising a vertically movable containerysupport, spring means opposing downward movement of said support under the influence of a container, a confining member adapted to hold a container upon said support, locking means operatively. connected to said support for locking said member in operative position when said support is depressed, means for varying thespring resistance to the downward movement of said support whereby containers of different weights may selectively be required to cause said locking means to lock said confining member, and means for rendering said locking means inoperative when the confining mem ber is in operative position.

1. A safety receptacle comprising a vertically movable container support, spring means opposing downward. movement of said support under the influence of a container,-a.closure member for said receptacle, locking means operatively connected to said support for locking said closure in closed position when said support is depressed. an indicator for indicating the size of container to be placed upon said support, said indicating means having in association therewith means for varying the spring resistance to the downward movement of said support thereby requiring placing upon the support of containers of the weight called for by said. indicating means before the locking means can be operated.

5.A safety receptacle comprising a move able container support, yielding means opposing movement of said support under the influence of a ,container, a confiningmember adapted to retain a container upon said support, locking; means operatively connected to said support for locking said member in operative position when the support is depressed, and means for selectively maintaining said locking means against operation untilthe containers of predetermined weightsv are placedthereon.

5', said receptacle having means for render- 6. A safety receptacle as specified in claim in'g said (locking means inoperative whenlt'he placed upon said support.

confining member is in operative position.

7. A safety receptacle comprising a vertically movable container support, yielding means for opposing downward movementof said support under the influence of a container, a confining member adapted to re- H1111, a container upon said support, locking means operatively connected to said sup port forloclring said confining member in operative position when said'support is depiesserL-an indicator for indicating the size and weipglit 'of the receptacle to 'beplaced upon said support, and means in association with said indicating means for preventing operation of said locking means unless a container oi the predeterminedi'wei ght and size indicated by said indicating means" is 8. A safety receptacleas'specified in claim '7, said indicating means being adapted to "indicate tliat'no container is'tobe placed upon said support, and the means in-associatio-n with said indicating means being adapted to prevent operation of said lock ing meanswhen theindicator is so adjusted even though the .confining member is in operative position.

*9. A safety 'receptaclecomprising a vertically movable container support, spring means opposing downward movement of said support under the influenceofa container, a confining me'mber'adapted'to retain a container upon said support, locking inean s operatively connected to said support for lock ng said confining member inoperative position when said support isydepressed, an indicator for indicatin'g'the size and weight of receptacle to be placed uponsaid support, and means for varying the spring resistance and the downward movement of said support in direct ratio to the Weight of "the receptacle indicated by said indicator whereby said locking means will, ;not be operated unless the container of the size and weight indicated is placed upon'said support. 1

# 10. A safety receptacle as specified in claim 9, said indicator being adapted to indicate that no container is to be placed upon said support, and means in association with said indicator for locking the support against movement and thereby to prevent operation of said confining member locking means when the member is in operative position. r

'll A safety receptacle comprising a casing, a door for said casing, a vertically movable container supporting platform in said casing, spring means for supporting said platform, said platform being depressible ing means. until the door" isclosed,- and means adapted selectively to be thrown into operation for preventing depressio'nof said platform vand actuation of said locking means when the door is closed.

12. A safety receptacle comprising a casing, a: door for said casing, a vertically movable container supporting platform in said casing, spring 'HIQQJIS for supporting said platform, said platform being depressib'le under the weight of a Container in opposition to said spring means, locking means connected to said platform andvertic-ally moveable therewith, means on ,said door adapted to be engaged by said-looking means when the platform is depressed and the door is closed, means for vary ing, the sp'i'ing'i'esistance to the movement of saidplatform whereby containers of varying weights may selectively 'be required to move'said locking means into engagement with said. means upon thedoon;

manually operable means for actuating said spring-resistance Varying 'means,;an indicator ad ustable by said manually operable means toindicate thecharacter of the container required to "move, said locking means to operative position. 1 i

13. A safety receptacle as specified in -claim12, said means for-varying the spring] resistance being; also adapted to lock said platform against vdepression when the door is closed.

In'testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. V 7

- JOSEPH GRIGAS. 

